Apparatus for testing dispensing apparatus



April 26, 1932. H. e. WEYMOUTH APPARATUS FOR TESTING DISPENSING APPARATUS Filed Nov. 19, 1928 Patented Apr. 26,1932 I HARRY GQWE MQU H, rI'r'rs'BUiaeH,QrEn SYLVAi iIA, Assidnoiiiibiri'rirsiiiinerti,

- EQUITABLE ME R. C0MPANY,1 on. IBI'ITSBURGIBQ, rnmisY vANIm conrcmmofi f or riinnsYLvAmA mmmmusr mm m sr mr smmmmwg i i f Application fiie 1 noiember *1e,*ie. ls iiai -maziiifesi;

The present invention relatesto anapparatuspforfacilitatingthe itesting ofthe accuracyiofl combined measuring and dispens F l-M'uchtiine iszthnszccnsumedyandinasmuchas;

thelab'or is Iunnecessari'lyfgreat; a-tendencyi 5 tominimize tl-ic n m iberf'ofztests'arisesa i The 1 ing device's.

' More specific lly ing. mechan sms ormetersj; and by} require;

mentof the Bureau ofWeights and Measures,

of service causing, at times, incorrect meas uring :and registering: of the fluid dispensed;

Accordingly, it is the practice totes'tnnd to adjust isu'chmeters-and mechanisms "from I timeito time'jto insure continued j aocuracyzi,

This'is done by an official who tests theimeters or mechanisms for accuracy, and-ifrneces sary, adj usts them through the adj ustable loypassesor similar} arrangements wlthjwhich such meters or mechanisms are ordinarily provided. Aftersuchinspectionthe meters V are i sealed against tampering until the next i testing by the'ofiicial;

mechanisms gcoinprises' filling a vessellpf known content W1tl1"gasol1ne orjother' fluid:

and then noting the' reading 0f the m'eter or}. mechanism to ascertain whether-the"dispens ing pump; or device is dispensing the quan-' tity of fluidindicated by the 'met'ereonnected' therewith come-Within therequired t'oler; ancesm Y r ..While such tests by a atumrimemciai are made'onlyat certaingti nes it isthe' prao" V tics of the proprietors of 'manyfgasoline'l or similar stations: to make frequent" tests =at' short time intervals to ascertaint'heaccuracy of. their dispensing-t pumps: or devicesyfor -their own,v as Welli as theircustomerspro: tection. f, ,r v

' This periodic testing-inwhich a =-qi'1a-ntity" of gasoline is drained-from eachpump into as ineasurlngvessel requiresconsrderable time,

the invention relates to; an apparatus for fac litating :the; testing of: r registering meters on-gasoline-pumpso'rlike -fluid.dispensingdevices; m 7

As; -is"'Well known', gasoline dispenslng 10 pumps are ordinarily provided with measur= di'spen'singadevice,

since as heretofore'practiced j it -is necessar port: of; the reservoir after: each: pnmp test;

need:ofragmoreexpeditious Inethod rel-5cm;

ing;fiuid dispensing devices wherebythe tests mumof labor. 7.

l ryir'ig outi such tests rparticul'arlyin'gasoline' filling stationsyhnsrledi to the present'inven- 1 I g V lt sfaccord ngly;a"-pr1mary'ob]ectofthis inventioniito provide an apparatus for test-' s are carried"but'expeditiously-and vvith amin'i- 1 dispensingldevi'ces' whereby a plurality of such devices can-be tested? successive1y--vvithip out: the "necessity of separate setupsfor each It; iska still further" oloj ect the invenfj tion to provide; anappara'tusfor facilit ting i therte'sting of fluidsdispensingadevices Whereby measured. quantitiesof fluidg from -a plw. r-ality of such devicescanibe easily and quick ly.. restored to the reservoirs of such d'evicesl' 0thers that-f will become} apparent.v from tl ej V w v following Idisclo'sure;reference wil l' he had" V The method of'testing' such meters and-' partthereofand in which Fig." l is aisid'e elevation anism associated therewithi e1 broken away anfelninsecti'onafof the structure fill'us- T tratedin' Fig. 1. i i 1 Referringktoix the by reference; characters in which like clraracters"designate r like partsgi- 10" designates a n gasoline-"or other s v iewor'thejap paratusshown' in operativeiconnectiomvvithi a fliiiidii-di'spensing v device ion-testing thesac g uracy ofa nieter'onothenmeasuringun'echfluidmea'su'ring'and dispensing device of any wellllknovvn constr'uctironlandgwhich easl 'in quiteilcommon practice; -"ifs ;--pr'ovided1with a meter: register -11 '5for indicatinglthequantity of fluid dis'pensed: by the pump. A gasoline:

is aselectedrmerelyilforpurposesof 1 -measuring and dispensing device of thisitype f 10L and it should be understood that the testing apparatus about to be described may be used in connection with gasoline dispensing devices of any form or with other'liquids or commodities of any nature. Secured-at one end thereof to. the dispensing device is a delivering hose 12 of well known type which,

adjacent its opposite end, is provided with a flowregulating 'valve'13.

"WhileI have disclosed a'fluiddispensingpump providedwith a wet type hose, in which the valve is located adjacent the dis charge end of the hose, a: similar pump with y yp hose, wh ch;thefiuidr guh ing valve is disposed adjacent thepump, or

.-meter, may obviously be used.

The meters with which fluiddispensing devices, such as gasoline pumps, are equipped,

are liable togetout of adjustment from time to time resulting in anincorrect reading of the quantity .offluid dispensed, as above pointed out, and in order to correct orireadjust such metersfor a correct reading, they are, as is well known, provided with adjusta- I ble by-passesor other adjusting devices for effecting adjustment for correct reading by altering the'transverse area of the by-passes, Or in any otherf'way, in well known 'manner.

"These. adjustments are commonly made by an authorized oflicial who discharges a quantity of fluid through hose 12 after opening valve-13 into a vessel ofmeasured volume and then observing the reading of the meter to ascertain the'accuracy thereof.

. -My invention provides an apparatus facilitating this method of testing which, in apreferred embodiment thereof,--andras illustrated in Figsil and 2, comprises a tank 14 which, ispreferably constructed of sheet metal; The tank is preferably in theform of avessel closed at its top, bottom and sides, ex-

cept for oppositely disposed openings 15. in

' the endsthereof, for a purposelater tobedescribed. The bottom of'tank' ltis prefer-- ably inclined inwardly and downwardly from both the sides aandgends, thereof, 'as indicate ed at 16, thus'providingan inclined-bottom for directing fluid containedltherein to the central part thereof which is provided with a drain opening. 17 extending 'therethrough. boss 18 defining a valve seat fora valve,

hereinafter referred to, maybe provided to surround said. drain opening. Secured in'any suitable manner to the bottom oftank 14 ad, jacent each corner thereof, is a wheel sup-' porting bracket;;19 provided with suitable casters, or withwheels 21,.thus providing for facile movementofthe tank 14 from'point'to point. p

. Secured to eac h end of tank 'l lg'in' alinement'with the lowe r edge of opening15' is 'a bar 22 towhich' is secured adj acentthe oppositei'sides of opening l5, a pair of brackets 23 to. the outerends of .which, and between a which, i a measuringfvessel' 24,;1is pivot-ally sewith the upper edge-of tank end 'ceive a. quantity cured, as indicated at 25. Each measuring vessel 24: is of a measured capacity and may be of any desired configuration and may fur ther be provided with suitable indices for indicating different volumes of fluid. The measuring vessel in the specific embodiment disclosed, comprises a body portion 26, a neck portion 27, united with body portion 26 through a conical portion'28, and an out-' wardly flared :or funnel-shaped head portion 29 connected to neck portion 27. Body portion 26isprovided with a base rim 31 and 7 an outer-reinforcingrim or ring 32. Vessel- 24. is pivotally connected to brackets 23 at the rim or ring 32between the longitudinal center thereof, and the adjacent end of tank 14; Rim 31 may be provided with astop lug 33 normallyfengaging, the adjacent end of tank 14 due to the off center pivotal connection 25, thus causing vessel 24 to normally rest in an upright or verticalposition as indicated at the left end of tank 14 in Fig. 1. Neck portion 27 of vessel 24 is provided with a stop and vessel protecting lug 34 for engagement wall and bar 22 when the vesselisbeing emptied in tank 14 by swinging itabout its pivot 25, as indicatedat'the right end, of tank 14: in Fig. 1.

Each vessel-24 is provided with a manipulat-- irig handle35; T.

It will be observed that the axis of the piv-.

at the right of'Fig.1 the center of gravity of'the vessel being emptied, is disposed between. the vertical plane containing the. axis of. the vessel pivots and the side of thetank.

By this arrangement the vessel is in stable equilibrium when itis being filled as shown at the left of Fig; l, or when it is being emptied-as shown at itheright of this figure. That. is, it is unnecessary for the attendant toihold'the vessel in either of the positions illustrated in said figure;

It is thus possible for the attendant to move-the tank. to the next pump while one or both vessels is draining into said tank. Accordingly, the measuring vessels will drain as the attendant .moves frompump, to pump and will be ready to re of fluid from the next pump when the tank is brought adjacent-thereto.

This, arrangement greatly reduces the time necessary to successively test a plurality of measuring and. dispensingdevices; 7

Tank 14 is provided on the top thereof in vertical 'alinement with valve seat 18, with a boss 36 centrally apertured for receiving a verticallyimovable member 37 to which the Z tank 14-adjacent-boss 36; istabitturcatecl brackouter end of Y1 a. valve actuating rod 38 isdetachably secured; "The'innerend;thereof carries'a valve 39 forcoopenati0n with seat '18 a'bove referred to. 7 Supported byit hetop of -et'4l between ears of WhlQha; valvefactuating lh'and'le 425is piv0ted a-t=43 adjacent one. end thereof, which end is pivotallyisecured-g to memberx37 as indicatedlat'44w 0 is of: substantially -V -form in; edge View; with i the legsthere'of convex in aedirection ofthe v If the meteivdoes not register thearnountfof V a; .1 fluid dispensed it 1 is fadjuste'd: through fs'uit- Len vertical axis,:fas clearly indicated in -Fig; 11.; The shield is ofa vvid-th equal to that of openings 15%and the innerendor-apex is substantially in horiz'ontal a linement-with the inneriijlIGIQOf edges of openings 15, and the legs preferably terminateat'the opposite ends of tank 14 imme'diately inward of the closed top thereof. Shield iszapertured inthe apex -portion thereof for the reception of valve rod'38.

Y In ope-rationfwhen isdesiredj 6 test the accuracy oflthe meters on. one or more: fluid 5 measuring 1 anddispensin'g' devices such as gasoline pumps,tank'14, provided with-the measuring vessels '24'and o'therappurtenances abovedescr bed; is' rolled into prox unity to theclevi'ces to be tested-by meansof At: such time the ine-asuring vesselszare; in uprightpositionas indicated at tl'ie'leftof tank 14 inFigLl. Hose '12'isnow: released from 'thepump andthei end thereof: intro-- duced into the ffunnel sha-ped head portion of'one f the' 'measuring vessels 24', after which gasoline is admittedLto the measuring vessel through valve.- 13,- if the hose be of the wet type untila: measured quantity of, gfllSO? line has been-dispensed, as indicated by the measuring vessel. The reading of then et'er orfiother measuring dev1cef1sthen observed to ascertain the' degree of "accuracy thereoi;

*able adj'usting rnechanism above i efer're'cl to. The filling of the measuring vessel 'may have e to be-repeated"several times-before. obtaining *an accurate adj ustment of the meter.'

while the a the; stop 34 'engagin 5 -the'right of tank 14.,

s .adjustmentismade vessel '24 is returnedkto the vertical or receivinggposition zvvith 'stop 33 in engagement Y with 1 the adj afcent i of "adjusted i is -se le esainst unauthorized ijzunp'erin'g; 7

uring vessels the testing can be carried r out f l more iiexpeditousl'y: since":: one i'vessel be An anti-spla'sh shields-45 isprovided which .the'ivhe'els 21 with which tank 14 is provided.-

Itank' 14.1 -Af;ter the rneter has been properly filling from 'one pumpwhile a-nother is-being femptied 0 f the ffluid from: another pump or 'aplurality ofvessels can besimultaneously l 'filled'from' a' like numberiof pumps 'and b discharged 50f 'theirfcontents into housing114 While the "meters on the; plurality of; pumps f are being observed and adjustedlfor c accw racy.

":Shie1d'r45, duel to the disposition i ofthel-legs thereof, eachzof which facesfonef of the measuring vessels, prevents 'the'zifluid s fromone vessel splashing out of the opening provided forthe-other vessel and. causesathe fluidssfbeing discharged from the measuring I vessels. toaimpinge thereagainst rat-i an. angle such as: to deflectit towardwthej bottom and sides Edit Y tank 14.- Shield 45 ;n0t1;only: serves;

" the anti-splash function above describedgrbut it further? functions .aslaviguide for the valve 7 I 5 114 is "disclosedasbeingsprorod 38;? Y WhiIe tank 'vided 'withlt'wo measuringvess'els it will b'c v apparent that a greater number may bee "employed-if desired,for further facilitating the "testing .operations-l 1 14 has become.

Y When, during the course of testingtank filled with fluid up to ithe' bottom of openings 15,= it is manually transported to the filling orifice for oneormoie of the pumps and drained of its contents by bearing down on 'the free end of handle") 42,which, due torits lever action,1willpu-l-lfind. 38 upwardly and'iraise valve39 ifrom' seat 18; permitting .the fluidto drain-through V ,the' openingfl'l; and tank 14 :is' then trans ported .to V a 1 position; for s further testingir opt ?erati0'ns.1f Suitable holdingjmeanszmay 1 7 7 provided t0 -hold thej eha-n dle'42 position With: thevalve 39 open'iduring draining. l

3105 7 {apparatus l 1erein *"descr;ibed, itestingi-tcpenaa ations; are. greatlyifacilitated ,;since 'afgreat 7 numberfof single; testqu'antities ofafiuidic'an' be quickly 'discharge'dg into atank l 14,. and,

a'sily and quickly i Thus; it Willalbe' seen; that by means, of. the

"which; ivvhen fille d, can drained of its contents; 1

ent kinds by discharging. into:tank*14.1 1

LIt -1i's ,tos-be observed-that Wlf1enf fluid dis-J f. pensi'ng-dev-ices such as'fgasoline pumps, con 2' tain difierentkindslof fluid; or .igasoline; those; containing arlike kind maybeitested" ltogether'ineorder to avoid mixing'the-difl'eri While; I have; disclosed certain specific e'rn- Y Qbodiments bf any invention; such are T t'of-be considered {as illustrative only and 1 not re f V strictive, sincerth'e scope-of nayinvention is Y United States LetterszPatent'r-is ::I-,-. a

ly, whatkll claini land''desireitosecure-by i .f 1. Atesting device. forgnieasuringi-,thefic curacy of fluid: l'disp ensingsystems eompfis j s mgla *portablettank provided with openings therein a fluidi measuring vessel :pivota lly J ;connected 1witlr.saidatank adjacentgeachf of V 5sai1dbpia1'i1hgs; saidzmeasuringr; viessels, Mingpivoted in manner as to normally rest in an uprightposition "for receiving fluid to be measured from theidispensing system under test, and being'adapted to be swung onrtlieir pivotal connections into said vopenlngs' for emptying the fluid-contained therein into bottom havingacentral drain aperture and valve means supported-by said tank for con trolling said aperture. 1.

4.: Apparatus'for testing theaccuracy ofsaidtank. f v v ,l I

2. The combination defined in claim 1 in which said tank-is provided with an antivsplash shield for preventing splashing through said openings and for directing the "fluididischarged from said measuring'ves ,selstoward the bottom of said't'ank. T.

'3; The combination defined'in, claim 1;. in which said tank is provided with an inclined meters on fluid dispensing devices, comprising a portabletank provided with an opening in each end thereof; a fluid. measuring vessel pivotally connected to said tank adjacent each ofsaid openings for receiving fluid from said ,fluid dispensing devices and tadaptedto be swung on their pivotal con i-nectionsto a downwardly inclinedstabl-epo- 1 sitionv through said openings for draining 'thefluid contents thereof into said tank;

i 5. The combination defined in claim skin.

' which each of said measuring vessels is pivotally connectedto one side of the longitu- -dinal center thereof to the router ends of brackets projecting outwardl from the base of said openings and in which-each of said {vessels is-provided with-a lug for normally 1 engaging said tank for maintaining'said Vessel in an'upright fluid receiving position anda second lug forengagmg said tank for limitingithe movement of said vessel-1n its inclined discharging position: a a

a 1 6. The combination definedin claim 4' in 'wliich said tank isf-pi'ovidedwith 'a ivalve fcontrolled' dischargel'opening in the vbase thereof; ananti-splash'shield; and a valve actuating rod extending through andiguided i bysaid shield; and means supported by the tank;

top ofisai'd tank for actuating said rod.

' .7. Fluid meter testing .Iapparatus comprising a portable tank] provided with an openingin' each end thereof, and a valve controlled drain opening in the'base there of; an anti-splash shieldzsupportedf in said a; valve actuating. rod extending through said shield and the .top of said tank;

a lever pivotally connected to the top of said tank for actuating said rod; and a fluid measuring vessel pivotally connected to said tank opposite" each ofsaidopenings' V #8. The combinationdefinedi in claim.7 in

which said anti-splash shield comprises a 5 or pair of. outwardly diverging aprons eachiof which is positioned inwardly of, and in line with one of said openings andwhich iSEQOIL' vex toward said openingso that rfluid from .ing a wheelsupported tank provided with one vessel. may not splash through the opening in the oppositewalliof the tank provided for the other vessel. c

9. Fluid meter testing apparatus comprisan inclinedfbottom,having. a central valve controlled fluid discharge opening and: an opening in each end thereof; an anti-splash shield comprising anarcuate portion opposite each'o'f said openings; avalve actuatin rod extending through said shieldiand the top of said tank; airod actuating lever piv- .otally securedto the'top-of said tank; a pair of laterally spaced brackets projecting outwardly from said tank-adjacent each of said openings; ameasuring vesselpivotally secured intermediate its" ends 7 and to'. one a side of the longitudinal center thereof to each tpairlof said brackets; a lugcarriedby each I of said vessels normally engaging-said tank below the respective opening for retaining said vessel in an upright fluid receiving posiarranged to support saidvessel in stable equi librium in fluid receiving position, and to support said vessel in stable equilibrium when 7 i it is moved to-a position in which it dis charges its contents intosaid tank. I

'11. Testing apparatuscomprising a portable tank .of substantial capacity, a fluid measuring vessel of small capacity pivoted to saidtank, the pivots of: said vessel being ar- V ranged so that said vesselassumesa position a of stable equilibrium when the vessel is in "position to receive the fluid to:be measured 7 and when it is swung about its pivotto discharge the fluid measured. into said tank.

"12. A testing deviceforimeasuring the ac-' curacy of fluid dispensing systems 7- comprisinga portable tankof substantial capacity,

a measuring vesselof small capacityassociated with said tank so thatthe contents thereof may readily :be emptied-into said tank and means within said tankto minimize the splashing of fluid from said tank as said vessel is being emptied thereinto. p

13 A testingdevice formeasuring theaccuracy of fluid; dispensing systems compris ing a portable tank for temporary disposition adjacent the dispensing system to be tested, lan open-top. vessel of measuredfluid capacityadapted to receive a-measured quaii; tity'of fluid from the dispensing system, and

:meansifor supporting said vessel on said portable tank for.v receivingliquid and-, fo'r :facili- 'itating the 1 emptying of; =.the fluid .into said tank-. 5 "'14.;The

mamas a ain-antes [13 wherein said vessel is pivotally supported wherein said tank is provided with a valve for emptying the same after repeated testing operations. V

15. The invention as defined in'c1aim13 

